A father-of-six in Wisconsin has been arrested, along with his girlfriend, for allegedly abusing his kids by inflicting 'military-style punishments'.

Joshua Lopez, 30, and Kremena Bujanowski, 25, were each charged on Monday in Wausau with six counts of child abuse and one count of causing mental harm to a child.

Authorities say that Lopez's youngest son, who is three, was found with bruising to his lower back and thighs.

The other five children - the oldest of which is 11 - were subjected to beatings with belts, spoons and a rubber strap, the Wausau Daily Herald reported.

Joshua Lopez, 30 (left), and his girlfriend Kremena Bujanowski, 25 (right), were each charged on Monday in Wausau, Wisconsin, with six counts of child abuse and one count of causing mental harm to a child

Court documents state that the pair were caught when a staff member at Marathon County Head State - a childcare agency - noticed bruises on the three year old's backside when helping him use the bathroom.

After consulting with a colleague, the staff member determined the bruises were new and had not been there a few days prior.

Officials then interviewed the other children, who detailed the alleged abuse they had been put through at home by their father and his girlfriend.

The children said the two adults would force them to hold objects like heavy rocks, books or buckets of dry cement over their heads or in front of them for extended periods, usually around 15 minutes.

The children also said the time they had to carry the objects would increase if they cried or could not manage to hold the object for that long, according to The Daily Record.

Scene: Records show that Lopez lives on this street in Wausau, Wisconsin. He has been held on $500 bail